A few less trees in Richmond

The ubiquitous john mposted this morning an “unsubstantiated rumor” about tree removal in Shockoe. Having just ridden my bike through the bottom, I can indeed confirm that the city has cut down all the trees on E. Main St. between 17th & 18th- fresh sawdust, leaves, and tree stumps are all that’s left.

A quick call to the city arborist’s office revealed that the trees were removed at the request of the Shockoe Bottom Merchant’s Association. SBMA representative Heather Trong asked the city to assess the trees for a number of reasons: they were encroaching on businesses, buildings, power lines, and street lights. Luke McCall, the city arborist additionally felt they had outgrown their space.

Mr. McCall indicated that the trees would be replaced by a smaller species this fall- possibly Crepe Myrtles.

The trees on Main between 17th & 18th made the block especially dark, blocking the streetlights above. Lots of nonsense occurred with groups of people from different bars fighting, throwing bottles, and breaking a storefront window within the last few weeks under cover of relative darkness.

While foliage greens the urban landscape, it must be managed actively. Trees mature and require removal, roots push up sidewalks, making them less handicapped accessible, and more of a tripping hazard. Roots also wrap around utility lines as they grow, hindering repairs and improvements to infrastructure.

I know we all envision a green, shady downtown, but the plainest requirements for a healthy town are functioning utilities and some modicum of safety. Hence, the trees had to come down.

I dunno. Look at what the removal of the Bartlett pears from Carytown a few years ago accomplshed. The street looks stark by contrast today and the little ones the city planted don’t provide much shade and aren’t quite as picturesque when their limbs fill with the first winter snow.